Killer stretch claims another lifeBy CECILY ASSON Sunday, December 14 2008
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A relative of Kevin James looks at his body after he died in a car accident along the South Trunk Road near the Mosquito Creek yesterday. Inset is acc...
The dangerous stretch along the South Trunk Road, Mosquito Creek, La Romaine in the vicinity of the Godineau Bridge yesterday claimed yet another life.
Dead is Kevin James, 26, of St John’s Trace Branch Extension, Avocat Village, Fyzabad. The father of one, who was the lone occupant of the vehicle, was killed instantly when the brown 280C Nissan taxi he was driving collided head on with a ten-tonne gravel truck. One year ago, James survived a similar vehicular accident, shaken relatives told Newsday yesterday.
Truck driver Steve Samaroo escaped unhurt while two unidentified children were rushed to the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) for treatment.
Grief stricken relatives told Newsday that James was on his way to San Fernando to collect his two-year-old nephew, Kmani Young to attend service yesterday morning at the South Oropouche Seventh Day Adventist Church. Relatives said the toddler along with James’ young son, Jeremiah were expected to do a Christmas poem during the 9.30 am service yesterday.
A police report stated at about 7.10 am yesterday, James was proceeding east into San Fernando when he attempted to overtake two vehicles. James reportedly lost control of the car and swerved onto the grass at the side of the roadway to avoid hitting an oncoming vehicle but swerved back and collided head-on with the gravel truck. Police said the vehicle split in two on impact causing James to die on the spot.
The early morning accident caused a massive pile up along the South Trunk Road as weeping relatives and friends on the scene tried to come to terms with the tragedy. His body was viewed by the District Medical Officer and later removed to the mortuary at the SFGH. James’s common-law wife Jenelle Boyce is vacationing in New York.
Yesterday at his home, James’ mother Elvina, 49, was inconsolable as she screamed her son’s name while his distraught father McDonald recalled how last December he (Kevin) was involved in a similar accident but survived.
He said, “He was the one who did all our errands and often took out the family. While the other children are academic, I could have depended on him to tend the animals. He was the handyman around here.” Cpl Ramdhanie of the Traffic Department (South) is investigating.
